Thescreescore – Dan Trachtenberg, the visionary director behind Predator: Badlands, has shed light on the intriguing decision to set his film in the far-flung future of both the Predator and Alien universes. This bold move, he explains, was a deliberate attempt to carve out a unique space for his story, ensuring it wouldn’t tread on the toes of other projects in development, such as Alien: Romulus.
Predator: Badlands introduces audiences to Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a formidable Yautja warrior, and Thia (Elle Fanning), a synthetic being haunted by her origins within the notorious Weyland-Yutani corporation from the Alien franchise. In a recent interview, Trachtenberg elaborated on his rationale for pushing the narrative so far beyond the established timelines.
"Very intentionally, it is the furthest into the future in both Predator and Alien," Trachtenberg stated. He confessed that during the film’s production, he was uncertain about the direction of Alien: Romulus and even less aware of Alien: Earth. His primary goal was to avoid any narrative conflicts and to establish Badlands as its own distinct entity. Furthermore, having previously explored different time periods in the Predator mythology with Prey and Killer of Killers, he was eager to venture into uncharted temporal territory, even surpassing the events of Alien: Resurrection.
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While Alien: Earth unfolds just two years before the original Alien film, and Alien: Romulus is set two decades after Ripley’s initial encounter with the Xenomorph, Predator: Badlands takes a dramatically different course by leaping into the distant future. This strategic decision appears to have resonated with both critics and audiences, as evidenced by the film’s impressive reception.
The film has garnered a "Certified Fresh" rating from critics and a remarkable 95% "Verified Hot" audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Moreover, Badlands shattered box office records, securing the Predator franchise’s best-ever domestic opening with a staggering $40 million. Its global debut of $80 million has already eclipsed the entire worldwide gross of Predator 2 (1990), and it’s rapidly approaching the original Predator‘s (1987) global earnings.
The conclusion of Predator: Badlands tantalizingly hints at the possibility of a sequel, promising further adventures for Dek and Thia. While a sequel hasn’t been officially confirmed, the film’s resounding success at the box office and overwhelmingly positive reviews strongly suggest that Trachtenberg will have the opportunity to propel the Predator and Alien franchises into an even more distant and unexplored future.
With ongoing discussions about a potential Alien: Romulus sequel and hopes for a second season of Alien: Earth, Trachtenberg’s decision to anchor Predator: Badlands in a separate timeline ensures that these projects can coexist without any narrative interference, paving the way for a diverse and expansive future for both iconic franchises.
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